Stage 4, Plumelec to Le Puy du Fou - 223 km
More long distance (but ultimately futile) attacks today. Gaumont attacked just after another rider (Fontanelli) hit a spectator, causing confusion in the peleton. He went clear at the 90 kilometre mark, reaching an 11:25 margin by the 124 km point (making him the Tour leader on the road). However, it was at that point that the gap started to shrink, and he was caught in La Boissiere de Montaigu, with a little less than 40 kilometres left in the stage. There was a flurry of breakaway attempts after this, but Festina kept a close eye on things leading up to the last major climb of the day (Cote de la Chouniere), as they want to keep their rider Laurent Brochard in the Polkadot Jersey (best climber). Brochard, Chanteur, Virenque had a small gap over the top of the climb, but were reeled in with 5 kilometres to go. Telekom caused some gaps within the field to appear with a furious pace at the front, as they attempted to set up Zabel for his second consecutive stage win, but in the end Nicola Minali pipped both Zabel and Cipollini (caught behind Zabel) at the line.
1. Nicola Minali (Ita) 5:46:42
2. Frederic Moncassin (Fra)
3. Erik Zabel (Ger)
4. Mario Cipollini (Ita)
5. JEROEN BLIJLEVENS (Ned)
6. Fabio Baldato (Ita)
7. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est)
8. Stuart O'Grady (Aus)
9. Robbie McEwen (Aus) all s.t.
WomenÃ¢â‚¬Å¡s Giro
We have no results from the stage 6 individual time trial (20 km), although we do know that Canadian Linda Jackson must have ridden well to move up from 5th (over a minute back) to third.
Stage 7, Monteselice, 99 kms:
1. Catherine Marsal (Fra) 2:28:01
2. Regina Schleicher (Ger)
3. Sara Felloni (Ita) Edilsavino
4. Urbonaite (Lit)
5. Cristofoli (Ita)
6. Faccin (Ita)
7. Longhin (Ita)
8. Grossi (Ita)
9. Valvik (Nor)
10. Holden (USA) all s.t.
GC
1. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Sanson Mimosa 17:31:25
2. Chiappa (Ita) Edilsavino at 0:23
3. Jackson (Canada) 0:29
4. E. Pucinskaite (Lit) 0:37
5. A. Cappellotto (Ita) 1:20
Alberta Provincials Clinic (thanks to Greg Flaaten for this info)
A pre-race clinic will be conducted by provincial mountain bike coach Steve Lund on Saturday (July 12) at the Canmore Nordic Centre. Steve will lead rides for anyone interested in getting the inside scoop on the course. Location: Georgetown Stadium. Rides depart at noon and at 3:30 PM. More details: www.mtbcanmore.com or Contact: Ross Balharry (403) 609-2585